Golf: McIlroy is one of the favorites at the 2023 Players Championship

Updated March 6, 2023
Updated March 6, 2023By Chris Boline
golf betting players championship

Dubbed by many outlets as the “fifth major” on the PGA Tour, the 2023 Players Championship is set for this week at TPC Sawgrass with a loaded field. With a field consisting of 144 players, including various recent winners of major championships, along with the remaining top 125 players from the FedEx Cup, this should be a must-watch event. Leading the favorites in Florida will be four-time major winner, Rory McIlroy. Hailing from Northern Ireland, the 33-year-old is coming off a fantastic second-place finish at The Masters last year. There are also a handful of other notable names in the field this year including 2022 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, two-time PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas, and six-time Tour winner, Max Homa. 

In this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from each of these players along with more notes and information about PGA golf betting. 

2023 Players ChampionshipBetOnlineBetUSGTBets
Rory McIlroy+1100+1100+1100
Scottie Scheffler+1400+1400+1400
Justin Thomas+1800+1800+1800
Max Homa+2000+2000+2000

The No. 1 Contender: Rory McIlroy (Odds: +1100)

The veteran has been riding a hot streak as of late with three PGA Tour wins last year, including McIlroy’s third overall Tour championship. Moreover, earlier this year, the 33-year-old was able to win his third overall Hero Dubai Desert Classic, with a one-stroke win over Patrick Reed. During that contest in late January, McIlroy finished with a final score of -19. Overall, last year was a great campaign for the veteran, winning the Vardon Trophy and also the Byron Nelson Award for the fourth time ever. 

Rory McIlroyTo win the 2023 Players Championship
+1100
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The No. 2 Player: Scottie Scheffler (Odds: +1400)

As referenced above, Scheffler is coming off a win at the 2022 Masters, but will be looking to prove why he has been the No. 1 player in the world for a sequence of over 31 weeks at one point. The PGA Tour Player of the Year for 2021-22, the former University of Texas Longhorn is one of the best in the world. Scheffler most recently won the MW Phoenix Open (his second title there) just last month. Returning to the No. 1 ranking after a win in Arizona, Scheffer is a solid bet to take home the crown in Florida. 

Scottie SchefflerTo win the 2023 Players Championship
+1400
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The Third Contender: Justin Thomas (Odds: +1800)

Having won the Players Championship in 2021 with a one-stroke win over Lee Westwood, Thomas certainly has the bonafide to make another run at a title in the Sunshine State. With a playoff win over Will Zalatoris in the 2022 PGA Championship, the 29-year-old has amassed 17 professional wins with a steady hand on the course. While he did win the PGA last year, his only other major tournament finish in the top ten was at the Masters. 

Justin ThomasTo win the 2023 Players Championship
+1800
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The Final Contender: Max Homa (Odds: +2000)

The winner of the 2023 Farmers Insurance Open, Homa is one of the most entertaining and talented players on the PGA Tour. At just 32 years of age, the Cal grad won two other titles last year, including his second-ever Fortinet Championship. He has been rising more as of late, with five wins over the last three years. 

Prediction: Another wide-open tournament to start the year, take Homa to win here as one of the more consistent players on the Tour.

Max HomaTo win the 2023 Players Championship
+2000
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Other notes and information about placing your PGA bets

Once you are all squared away regarding your latest round of golf wagers, make sure to check out all the great information that SBS has in store for you on its site. If you need more information about the links, make sure to check out our golf betting sites guide which covers a wide variety of current major golf betting markets. Moreover, if you are maybe uncertain about which payment options are the best for you and valid, the SBS payment methods breakdown has you covered. With this handy page, you can identify all kinds of ways to place deposits and withdrawals from crypto to traditional routes. Finally, when trying to get the most out of your bets, make sure to check out the SBS best bonus betting sites rundown which covers a wide catalog of the latest welcome bonus offers. 

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About the Author

Chris Boline
Chris Boline

As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education

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